Heat baffle for automatic sealing machines



Oct. 19, 1954 M. EBER ETAL 2,691,850

HEAT BAFFLE FOR AUTOMATIC SEALING MACHINES Filed Feb. 27, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTONE l Oct. 19, 1954 M EBER ETAL 2,691,850

HEAT BATTLE FOR AUTOMATIC SEALING MACHINES Filed Feb. 27, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORN EY Patented Oct. 19, 1954 HEAT BAFFLE FOR AUTUMATIC SEALING MACHINES Mortimer Eber, East Orange, and J ohn A. Storms,

Newark, N. J., assignors to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 27 1953, Serial No. 339,376

(Cl. llil- 2) 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a heat baille and, more particularly, to a heat baille for use in sealing the mount of a photoflash lamp to the bulb of the lamp.

Photoflash lamp bulbs are generally internally coated with an organic lacquer to prevent shattering of the vitreous bulbs when the lamps are fired, as is well-known in the art. These lacquers tend to burn and turn brown when heated by the sealing fires which are used to seal the bulb to 1l the mount of the photoflush lamp.

Heretofore bailles and air cooling have been used to prevent the foregoing lacquers from heating excessively, burning and turning brown during the sealing operation, but only a limited amount of success has been obtained. Diiculties were mainly encountered because the baffles did not completely encircle the bulb above the seal with the result that great care was necessary to isolate sealing nre splash and prevent excess heating of the bulb above the seal.

In order to have a baille which will perform satisfactorily, it must t snugly around the neck of the bulb, rotate with the sealing head or spindle, and yet be so designed as to allow initial insertion of the bulb. In addition, the cooling air supply should be primarily directed at the base of the bulb next to the seal, and yet not distort the sealing fires.

It is the general object of our invention to overcome and avoid the foregoing difficulties and objections to prior art practices by providing a new and more eicient baille which permits cooling air to flow against the entire bulb, and especially in the region where darkening is likely to be the most severe, namely that portion of the bulb near the seal.

Another object of our invention is to provide a baille which will shield the cooling air from the sealing fires and thus prevent distortion of the sealing res.

Still another object of our invention is to provide a baille which will rotate with the sealing head, fit snugly around the neck of the bulb, and yet be capable of opening or separating as to allow the bulb to be inserted into the baille.

A further object of our invention is to provide a simple means for supplying cooling air to the neck and envelope of a bulb while the bulb is being sealed to a mount, which means is adapted to production line techniques.

The aforesaid objects of our invention, and other objects which will become apparent as the description proceeds, are achieved by providing a baffle which will rotate with the sealing head or spindle of an automatic sealing machine, and which will receive an air blast for cooling purposes from a stationary air discharge nozzle. The novel baille is designed to provide a maximum shielding eilect of the sealing res from the cooling air and vice versa, while providing a path for the cooling air which will effect a maximum of cooling where it is most needed. Automatic sealing machines are common in the art, and a typical automatic sealing machine is generally described in Acopending application of Frank Reciniello, Serial No. 283,507, filed April 21, 1952, and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

For a better understanding of our invention reference should be had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. l is an elevational View, partly in section, of a sealing head or spindle of an automatic sealing machine, the sealing head as shown being located at station No. 3 in Fig. 2;

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of an automatic sealing machine showing the relative stations of the various steps of the sealing-in process and the location of the cooling air supply and the releasing cam track;

Fig. 3 is a plan View, partly in section, of the automatic bulb centering and retaining device of the sealing head or spindle of Fig. 1 taken along line III-III in the direction of the arrows. This shows the location of one of the baille assemblies and the air lines or conduits which supply cooling air to the baille;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the automatic bulb centering and retaining device which is part of the sealing head or spindle shown in Fig. l, taken along lines IV-IV in the direction of the arrows. This shows details of the baille, the air line or conduit supplying the baille, and air supply manifold discharge nozzle. Also shown is the side loading technique employed at bulb loading station 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation, partly in secNl tion, of the automatic bulb centering and retain ing device shown in Fig. 3, taken along lines V-V in the direction of the arrows. In this gure the sealing head or spindle is located at station E of Fig. 2, the first station in the sealing oper ation;

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary elevation of the automatic bulb centering and retaining device at station I3 of Fig. 2, the last station in the sealing operation;

Fig. 'l is an elevation of the sealed photoflash bulb, after unloading from the automatic sealing machine at station i6 of Fig. 2.

Although the principles of our invention are broadly applicable for use with sealing machines other than automatic sealing machines, the invention isv usually employed with an automatic sealing machine and hence it has been so illuserated and will be so described.

Referring to the drawing in detail, and particularly to Fig. l, the sealing head or spindle it is representative of one of the 16 sealing heads or spindles I of the sealing machine.y Each of the sealing heads II] (as shown in Fig. 2, 16 in number) is mounted on an indexing table or conveyor I2, moved thereby, and indexed through the 16 stations by conventional automatic indexing means (not shown). Each -head comprises a sealing pin shaft assembly I4, rotatably mounted with respect to the table I2, and vertically reciprocated with respect thereto by means of a sealing pin shaft assembly cam track I1 (complete cam track not shown), and a bulb holder assembly I8. v

'Ihis sealing pin shaft assembly I4, as shown in Fig. l, comprises a rotatably slidable sealing shaft 2B, and means for rotating the head I, such as a pulley -24 ailixed to the nlower end of the bul-b holder `journal 22. This hollow shaft 20 is slidable within an upper bushing 25 and a lower bushing 28 in the bjournal 22. Afxed to the bottom extremity of the shaft 20 is a hardened cap 3-0 slidable on the cam track I1. On the upper extrem-ity of the shaft 26 is mounted a hollow sealing pin 32, for receiving the leads and tabulation of a mount 33 for the photoash lamp.

The journal 22, as -shown in Fig. 1, rotates in a bushing 34, in the table I2. A vertical key 36 extends from the vjournal 22 into the keyway y318 of the shaft 2U, so that the shaft rotates as a unit with the journal 22. Vertical motion of the journal 22 is prevented by a thrust ball bearing 40 thereabout ybetween table I2 and a collar 42 thereof, and the pulley 24 in the bottom portion of the journal 22.

The bulb holder assembly IB comprises a pair of rods 44 and 46 the lower ends of which extend from sockets at the top of the journal 22. A yoke 48 is secured to the upper extremity of these rods. To this yoke 48 is secured the bame assembly I), which lbaiile assembly includes the baffle manifold 52 circumferentially disposed around the base of the baiile. The baie manifold, as shown, is of toro-idal conguration, but may take any desired shape. Bulb holder fingers 54 `are mounted with-in the baffle assembly 50 and consist vof three or more fingers disposed in circumferentially-s'paced arrangement and shaped to supportingly engage a bulb 56 having a neck portion A51 and an envelope 58. The hinged swingable releasing -cam 58 is a part of releasing cam track 60 and Iis secured to the automatic sealing mechine vat station No. 3 apart from the table I-2, and Serves :to release the bulb holding fingers v54 and the baiile assembly 50 as hereinafter explained.

The actuator 6I for hinged releasing cam 58 is also firmly secured to nthe automatic sealing machine at-station No. A3 apart from the table 12, and serves to actuate the hinged releasing -cam 58 as hereinafter explained. Actuator 5I may be pneumatic, -fas -is shown in the drawing, or a solenoid or other 4suitable actuating means.

A roller arm assembly 62 acts to transmit the motion of the hinged releasing cam 58 to release the baille assembly 50 and bulb holding fingers 54, as hereinafter explained.

The two baiiie halves 63 and 64 of the barile assembly 5B, when placed together in closed or bulb retaining position, form a hollow inverted frustum of a right circular cone Vi315, having an annular base 66, located at the smaller end of the cone, whose inner diameter 61 contiguously encircles the lamp neck 51. This hollow inverted frustum of a right circular cone -65 and annular base 66 may take any desired shape depending on the shape of the neck 51 and envelope 59, and the cooling requirements, but the preferred embodiment has been illustrated and described, in which the envelope 59 is partially enclosed by the baiiie when closed.

In Fig. 2 is shown the cooling air supply manifold 68 and the relative location of releasing cam track 60 of which hinged releasing cam 52 is a part.

In Fig. 3, a baiile assembly 50 and bulb holding fingers 54 are shown in the two positions which they occupy while in station 3 of Fig. 2, as hereinafter explained. The roller arm assembly 62 consists of a pivoted lever 10, which lever has a roller 12 secured at its end by means of a pin 14. A slot 13 is provided in pivoted lever 1.0 intermediate its ends and oneend of an arm 15 extends through slot 13 to loosely connect the end of arm 15 to pivoted lever 15. The other end of arm 15 is secured to gear 18 which is meshed with gear 16, which gears are in turn secured to the two baile halves 53 and 54 of the baiiie assembly l5B through connecting arms 19. The arm 15 and pivoted lever 10 .must sim-u1- taneously rotate in ,planes which are perpendicular to one another, and the connection between arm 15 and pivoted lever 1U consists of a loose fitting arm and slot in order to permit this vsimultaneous rotation.

Positioning set screw '80 may be adjusted as desired to regulate the amount of closure of the two baie halves '63 and 64 in the released or engaging position, as shown in the solid lines. The forward end of .positioning vset screw thus constitutes an arresting stop to limit ,pivotal Vrotation of pivoted lever 1U. The two -baie halves 63 and 64 which carry the bulb holder fingers 54 are shown as adapted to receive a bulb, that is, in their open or receiving position, in dotted lines.

The baiiie manifold 52 which as before .mentioned is circumferentially disposed around the baseA of the baille 'assembly '50 serves to admit cooling air to cool the bulb 5B. This, baffle manifold 52 is perforated as necessary with a plurality of apertures 82, as are needed to admit the `air to cool the bulb '56 during sealing. Such baffle manifold 52 is supplied with cooling air through air lines 83, the ends 84 of which flare out 'into a funnel shape in order to better receive air while rotating. 'These air lines are secured to the bailie halves 63 'and 64 and move with them. A spring St is placed under tension between .pin 14 and an arm 88 extending from 'setlscrew retainer 90,' so 'that the normal position for the gears 16 and 18 'will be such 'as to place the bale halves :63 and 64 together, that is, in the released or bulb engaging position.

Yoke 48 'serves as a base on which the -roller arm assembly 62, 'b'aiile assembly '50, and the gears "16 and '18 are mounted.

In Fig. 4 is shown the 'details of the roller arm assembly 62. The actuator 6'I transmits its motion to roller arm assembly-62 through connector 92 and 'hinged swingab'le releasing cam 58. The hinged `releasing; Acam 58 in turn contacts roller 12 whichis connected to pivoted ."lev'e'r 1.0 at its pivoting end. One end of arm '.15 is in turn loosely connected to pivoted lever '1.0 'through a slot 13, intermediate its ends, as heretofore noted, and the pivoted end of ipivoted .lever 10 is secured by .a pivot -94 ito the yoke 48. .As :hereinbeiore explained, lpin 14 y,serves to secure :roller 12 to -one -end fof pivoted lever 10' and spring :86 is secured to -theetherfend ofvpin 14.

The end of arm 'I5 opposite the end extending through the slot I3 in pivoted lever 78 is secured to gear 'I8 so that when pivoted lever 'I0 is released by hinged releasing cam 58, the arm 'l5 will move with a circular motion rotating the gear i8, which in turn will rotate the meshed gear 76. Thus it can be seen that arm 'l5 and pivoted lever 78 constitute a means for translating circular motion from one plane to another.

The air lines 83 are bent so as not to interfere with the insertion of the bulb 58 by a suction side loading means 85, as is common in the art. At the same time it is necessary for the air lines 83 to be able to rotate with the sealing head or spindle I8 and yet always have the funnel-shaped ends 84 of air lines 83 in receptive proximity to stationary air nozzles 96 to receive cooling air. This is achieved by locating the funnel-shaped ends 84 of the air lines 83 near the center of rotation of the sealing head or spindle I8. Similar stationary air nozzles 96 are located at each of the individual sealing stations 5 to I3, shown in Fig. 2.

As shown in Fig. 5, each of the sealing stations from 5 to I3 has two air supply nozzles 88 which supply cooling air while the sealing fires are applied. The air is forced from each stationary air nozzle 98, through the funnel-shaped ends 8e of air lines 83 into the baffle manifold 52 of each baffle half 63 and (ill of the baffle assembly 50. The manifold 52 distributes the air flow 'round the neck 5l of the bulb 58 at the point where cooling is most needed, such as shown by the direction-of-low arrows in Fig. 5. From this point the air is forced upward by the other incoming air to cool the rest of the bulb. The directed sealing ilres 98 and |08 are stationary with respect to the rotating sealing head or spindle Ill, and with respect to table I2. As shown, the fires 88 and I8@ are gas burners, but any conventional heating means may be adapted. Similar sealing fires are located at each firing station 5 to I3 of Fig. 2.

In Fig. 6, the bulb is shown at station i8, the last of the firing stations. As there illustrated, the sealing res 88 and I80 have been cut back. The cullet I 82 has dropped ofi' at one of the intermediate firing stations, and the seal |84 has been completed.

Operation At stations I and 2, as is shown in Fig. 2, the mount 3S is loaded, as is common in the art. At station 3, the bulb 58 is loaded as is indicated in Fig. 2. Side loading is necessary, as is shown in Fig. 4. When the bulb is loaded, the baffle halves 63 and 84 are in the open or receiving position, as indicated by the dotted line balTle halves in Fig. 3. These bafe halves are held in the open or receiving position by the hinged swingable portion 58 of actuating cam track 88 which acts upon roller l2 forcing pivoted lever I8 to the left, or dotted position, as is shown in Figs. 1 and 3. The swingable cam 58 is held in this actuating position by actuator' SI. The open or bulb receiving position of baffle halves 83 and 64 allows the bulb 56 to be freely inserted between the two halves and the bulb is retained at the proper vertical position by a suction loading means 85, as is common in the art. After the bulb has been positioned by the bulb loading mechanism 85 (shown only in part) actuator 8! raises hinged swingable releasing cam 58 from the dotted line or actuating position of Fig. 1 to the solid line or releasing position shown in Fig. l. As hinged swingable releasing cam 58 is raised, spring 86 pulls arm l5 to the right toward the solid line or closed position, as shown in'Fig. 3. This rotates gear I8 in a clockwise direction and meshed gear 16 in a counterclockwise direction, as seen from above, and serves to close the ballle halves 63 and 64 around the bulb. Bulb positioning fingers 54, disposed inside baffle assembly 50, support the bulb in this position. Suction side loading means 85 then automatically releases bulb 58, as is common in the art (automatic releasing mechanism not shown).

The sealing head or spindle I8 is then rotated by driving means (not shown) through pulley Zd and indexed to station 5 where the sealing operation commences and the cooling air is applied. The bulb is then indexed from station to station until the sealing operation is completed (indexing means not shown) After the sealing operation is completed, the still hot bulb seal |84 may be molded, if desired. Each of the sealing fires at stations y5 to I3 have an individual function to perform, such as pre-heating, shaping, shaping and sealing, sealing, seal cooling,

. and annealing. This is common in the art and the individual steps may be modified as dictated by the type of bulb being sealed, as shown in copending application of Frank Reciniello, previously referred to. As shown in Fig. 2, as the sealing head or spindle I8 is indexed toward station I8, the unloading station, it will contact a releasing cam track 6G of which hinged releasing cam 58 is a part. The sealing head or spindle I8 has stopped rotating upon leaving station I5 and is so oriented vthat roller l2 will contact releasing cam track 88. This forces lever arm 'I0 to the left, as shown in Figs. l and 3 (dotted position), which spreads the two baffle halves 88 and Sli and allows the bulb to automatically drop into a receiving chute (not shown).

It will be recognized from the foregoing that the present invention provides a new and novel battle assembly which shields the bulb from the sealing res. This baile also permits the forced cooling air to be continuously applied at the point where it is most needed, that is, the base of the bulb next to the seal. Further, the sealing res have been shielded by the new and novel baiiie from the cooling air, thus preventing sealing fire distortion. In addition, the cooling air may be continuously applied, even though the bale and bulb are rapidly rotated during the sealing operation.

It is, of course, obvious that our new and novel baie may be incorporated on any machine where its advantages may be utilized. The automatic sealing machine to which our new and novel baille is adapted in the foregoing description is only one of the better applications for the use of our baffle.

While in accordance with the patent statutes, one best form of embodiment of the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be particularly understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby.

We claim:

l. In combination with an automatic sealing machine, a rotatable baflie for a lamp having an envelope and a neck, a portion 0I" which neck is to be sealed to a lamp mount, said baflie having two halvesa portion of which cooperate when placed together to encircle the neck of said lamp between the envelope and said neck portion to besealed, said baile halves each having a base disposed around the said baflle half acetato 7 portion :encircling rthe lamp lneck, a baffle manifold :circumferentially disposed 'around each vof said baffle halves, said baffle 'manifold 'being provided lwith :apertures 'opening inwardly toward said neck between said base fand said envelope,

a stationary 4air supply manifold provided with air discharge means, land Afsaid baille manifold having .means in receptive proximity :to the air discharge fmeans vof said air supply manifold forming an `air vconduit 'from the yair discharge means of said air supply manifold "to -said baile manifold.

2. In combination with an automatic sealing machine, a rotatable .heat .baffle for a photoflash lamp .having an envelope and a neck, .a portion of which neck is to be sealed to a lamp mount, .said 'baflie having Atwo halves, a portion of 'which .cooperate when placed :together to contiguously encircle lthe neck of Vsaid ylamp lamp between the 4envelope .and said neck portion to .be sealed, said .baflie halves each having a base disposed around thesaid -baiile half lportion contiguously encircling the lamp neck, .a baflie manifold each of said bases, said .baiie .manifold being provided with a plurality yof apertures .opening inwardly ltoward said neck between said ibase and said envelope,.a stationary Aair supply manifold provided with air discharge means, said baliie manifold having vmeans in receptive proximity to the air discharge means of said Yair supply manifold forming an air conduit from the air 4discharge means of ysaid air supply manifold to said baffle manifold, and means for opening and closing said bale halves.

3. In combination with an .automatic lsealing machine, a rotatable baie for a -photoiiash 'lamp having an envelope and a neck, a portion lof which neck .is to `be sealed toa lamp mount, said bafe having two halves, a portion of which cooperate when placed together `to contiguously encircle the neck of said Ilamp .between the envelope and said neck portion to be sealed, a plurality of lamp `retaining ngers Acircumferentially disposed within said baffle halves, a `base circumferentially disposed around each of the .said .bafiie half portions contiguously encircling the ylamp neck, a baffle manifold circumferentially disposed around said bases, said baille manifold :being provided with a plurality of apertures yopening inwardly toward rsaid neck between said 'ibase and said envelope, a stationary air -supply manifold provided with air discharge means, Jsaid -baflie manifold having means Ain yreceptive proximity to the air discharge means of said air supply manifold forming an Lair conduit from the air discharge means of said -air supply `manifold to said baffle manifold, and means for opening .and closing said lbaiile halves,

4. In combination with an automatic sealing machine, a rotatable baifle for a 'photoiiash Ylamp having an envelope and a neck, `a portion of which neck is to be sealed to a lamp mount, said bafe having two halves, a portion of which .cooperate when Vplaced together `to Acontiguously encircle the neck of said lamp between Vthe envelope and said Yneck portion to be sealed, a plurality of .lamp vretaining 'fingers .circmnferentially disposed Ywithin Asaid baiie halves, :said baffle halves each .having .a base .disposed :around the said baffle half portion contiguously vencircling the lamp neck, .a .baiiie manifold circumferentially disposed around each of .said baiile half bases, :said .baiiie manifold :being .provided with a plurality of .apertures `zopening .imavardly :toward circumferentially disposed 'around said neck between said 'base Iand said envelope, air conduits forming apart of lsaid bafe halves and having 'an intake A.zend anda discharge end, an air ysupply manifold provided with .air -discharge means, -a discharge end of each vof said airconduits being connected to said baiiie manifold and the intake 4vends of said air conduits being located about the vcenter of rotation of said baiie yand in receptive proximity to the discharge means of Isaid air supply manifold, and means for opening .and closing `said 'bafe halves.

5. In combination with .an automatic `sealing machine, a 4rotatable fbaiile for a photoflash lamp having an envelope and a neck, a portion of which neck Vis to be sealed to a lamp mount, said baffle having two'ha'lves, la portion of which cooperate V.when placed together to contiguous'ly encircle 'the neck of said -laanp between fthe envelope and said neck portion 4to 'be sealed, another portion of which vcooperates when yplaced 4together Ito vpartially enclose said lamp envelope,

a plurality of lamp retaining Ifingers circumferentially disposed within said bafe halves, said baliie halves each having ya base disposed around the said baiiie half portion Icontiguously encircling the lam-p neck, la. `baiile Amanifold circumferentially disposed around each of said :baffle hal-f bases, said baille manifold being provided with a plurality of apertures opening inwardly toward said 'neck between said lbase and said envelope, an air conduit having an intake end and a discharge end, 'an -airsupply manifold pro vided vwith air discharge means, a discharge end of vsaid-air conduit being connected Vto said baiiie manifold 'and the intake `end of said air conduit being located about the center of rotation of said baffle andin vreceptive proximity to the discharge meansof said -airsupp'ly manifold, and Vmeans for opening and #closing `said baiiie halves.

=6. In combination with -an automatic sealing machine, a rotatable baiiie for a photoflash lamp having an envelope and a. neck, la portion of which neck is to be sealed to ya lamp mount, AYsaid baiiie having Itwo halves, a -portion'of which cooperate when 'placed together to -co-ntijguously encircle `the neck of said lamp between Vthe envelope and said `neck portion -to be sealed, -a plurality of lamp retaining `fingers circumferentially disposed within said bailie halves, 'said baffle halves each having A'abase/disposed around the said baie half portion contiguously encircling the lamp neck, `a .baffle manifold circumferentially :disposed around each of said baille half bases, .said baffle Amanifold being kprovided with a plurality of .apertures -ropening inwardly toward said neck `.between said base and saidenvelope, an air conduit .having a-n intake end anda discharge end, zanair supplymanifold lprovided with air discharge mea-ns, a discharge end of said air conduit being Yconnected to said baiile Vmanifold and the intake .end vof said air conduit .being located about the `.center :of rotation of said baiiie and in vreceptive 4proximity vto `the discharge means of `said .air supply manifold.

References =Cited in the `iile fof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,7I2,670 Madden May 14, 1929 1,742,153 lStiles et al. Dec. 3l, 1929 '1,915,1361 Gustin June 27, 1933 2,197,527 Madden Apr. 16, Y1940 2,'29550'34 vGeiger Sept. v-8, 1942 @3222728 Gates June 22, -194'3 

